As spring takes hold on the Hillside, South Kent is doing more than preparing for the season. It is growing it. This year, for the first time, many of the ornamental flowers that will define the beauty of Main Campus for Prize Day and Alumni Weekend are being cultivated by students at North Campus.
Through a new pilot program, the North Campus afternoon work crew has taken on the challenge of growing decorative plantings on-site, creating a more sustainable, student-driven approach to campus beautification. The result is a full-circle effort. Flowers seeded, nurtured, and brought to life by students will ultimately be enjoyed by the entire community during some of the School’s most important moments of celebration.
Inside the hoophouse, students were tasked with a complex design challenge. They needed to expand production to include ornamental plants without sacrificing existing vegetable crops. Their solution was both efficient and inventive. By designing and constructing elevated growing platforms eighteen inches above the raised beds, they created a dual-use system that increases growing capacity while maintaining established yields.
Below, the original beds have been seeded with red clover, enriching the soil through carbon capture and supporting long-term ecological health. This layered approach reflects a thoughtful balance between productivity and sustainability.
Beyond the hoophouse, students have built two large seed-starting shelves equipped with LED grow lights. These systems have allowed them to begin cultivation earlier despite the challenges of a long and unpredictable winter. Ten varieties have already been started indoors and will soon transition to the hoophouse before making their way to Main Campus.
The program includes a vibrant mix of species, including begonias, Dusty Miller, coleus, dahlias, impatiens, nasturtium, salvia, zinnias, and dichondra. Together, these plantings will transform the campus landscape. This effort is made all the more meaningful by the fact that they have been grown by hand, on-site, by South Kent students.
This initiative represents more than seasonal preparation. It is a living example of student ownership, sustainability in practice, and the enduring connection between North Campus and the broader life of the School.